http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_defense]Obama inks defense bill with hate crimes provision (AP)[/URL]



AP - Trumpeting a victory against careless spending, President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a defense bill that kills some costly weapons projects and expands war efforts. In a major civil rights change, the law also makes it a federal hate crime to assault people based on sexual orientation.